Shower head



Dec. 17, 1968 M. J. NELSON 3,416,734

SHOWER HEAD Filed Aug. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HAWK/7T z A4?! 5011/ BYQ/ZQIZW rm/24ers Dec. 17, 1968 M. J. NELSON 3,416,734

SHOWER HEAD Filed Aug. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet z wn-l 1 NVENTOR. #56077 WEZSWA/ BY A e/ M United States Patent 3,416,734 SHOWER HEAD Merritt J. Nelson, 2142 Griggs SE. Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506 Filed Aug. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 571,443 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-460) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adjustable shower head assembly having a cup-shaped shower head having a bottom with an opening for passing liquid to the head, a valve element movably associated with the head including a seat which in one position prevents liquid from passing from the head and in another position allows maximum liquid to escape from the head, the valve element including a stem extending from one side of the seat, the stem having at least one elongated groove beginning at its end and extending at least along a portion of its length, the end of the stem threaded into the opening and a handle on the opposite side of said seat for rotating the valve element and moving the seat with respect to the head, the liquid passing along the grooves in the stern into the interior of the head, the adjustability preferably accomplished through a plurality of indentations on the lip on the interior of the head.

This invention relates to a shower or spray head assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to .a shower head assembly especially adapted to give a controlled variation of volume through a full conical spray comprised of a plurality of minute liquid streams.

Many types of shower head assemblies are presently in existence. Many of these structures are complex in construction and very expensive, resulting from an effort to give smoothness of operation and good volume variation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower head giving a full conical spray of equal proportioned minute streams. A further object of the invention is complete controlled variation of volume, achieved by means of a turning adjustment. A further object of this invention is to provide such an assembly which is completely self draining. Still further, the assembly is economical in design with a minimum number of parts, requiring a minimum of maintenance, being pleasing in appearance and capable of being manufactured of various materials and finishes.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shower head assembly including the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the head of the assembly shown in FIG. 1, partially broken away to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the head shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the valve used in the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the valve shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the valve of FIGS. 4 and 5 associated with said head; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a modified form of the shower head assembly shown in FIG. 1.

Briefly, this invention relates to an adjustable shower head assembly or the like, including a generally cupshaped, hollow shower head having a bottom and side walls terminating in a lip. The bottom has an opening for passing liquid to the head. The lip has a plurality of indentations on the interior of said head, the indentations 3,416,734 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 decreasing in size as they extend towards the bottom of the head. A valve element is movably associated with the head, the valve element including a seat movably positioned adjacent the indentations. In one position, the seat prevents liquid from passing from the head through the indentations and in another position the seat fully exposes the indentations to the interior of the head, thereby allowing maximum liquid to escape from the head.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 (FIG. 1) designates an embodiment of a shower head assembly including the teachingsof this invention. The assembly 1 includes a shower head 2 and a valve element 20. The shower head 2 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is generally cup-shaped, of round configuration with the diverging side walls 3 and a bottom 4. A means 5 is provided for attachment to a water source. An opening passageway 6, threaded interiorly at 7, extends into the interior of the head 2. The passageway 6 is adapted to allow liquid to pass into the interior of the shower head. The side Walls 3 of the head 2 terminate in a lip 8, the entire circumference of the lip 8 being formed to include a plurality of closely spaced indentations 9 on the interior of the head. The indentations gradually and evenly decrease in size as they extend towards the bottom 4 of the head 2. The purpose of this structure will be fully explained hereinafter.

Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve element 20 includes a stem 21, threaded at 22 for insertion into the threaded opening 6 in the head 2. The stem 21 is grooved at 23 to expose the interior thereof to its outer surface. The valve element 20 further includes a seat 25 adapted to slideably engage the interior of the lip 8 of the head 2. A handle 26 is formed on the bottom of the seat 25.

Turning to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the threaded portion 22 of the valve stem 21 of valve element 20 engages the threaded opening 6 in the head 2. When so engaged, the sides of the seat 25 engage the lip 8 of the head 2, proximate the indentations 9. Liquid passes through the opening 6, into the grooves 23 of the stem 21, and out into the interior of the head 2. If the valve element 20 is rotated so that the seat 25 completely covers the indentations 9, no liquid can escape from the interior of the head 2. If the valve element is rotated so that the indentations 9 are slightly exposed, a conical spray comprised of a plurality of very minute streams of water emits from the assembly 1. As the valve element 20 is rotated to progressively expose the indentations 9 to the interior of the head 2, the volume of the conical spray becomes progressively larger. Thus, very minute adjustment is possible, as the slightest rotation of the valve element 20 changes the amount which each indentation 9 is exposed to the interior of the head. By means of a few small openings 27 in the seat 25, the assembly 1 is self-draining after the liquid supply is shut oif. It will be noted that the design of this assembly is very simple even though the variation of volume can be so closely controlled. The number of parts are at a minimum and the assembly therefore requires a minimum of maintenance. Further, the assembly is pleasing in appearance and can be manufactured of various materials and in different finishes.

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of the shower head assembly designated by the reference numeral 1a. The shower head is of identical construction to the head 2 already described and bears corresponding references numerals. The valve element 40 includes a first ring-shaped seat 41 which slidingly engages the lip 8 of the head 2 at the interior thereof. The interior of the seat 41 is threaded at 43 and also includes a plurality of indentations 42 similar to the indentations 9 described hereinbefore. A second valve seat 44, threaded at 45 is threaded within threads 43 within the first seat 41. The edge 46 of the seat 44 lies proximate the indentations 42. The stem 47 of the second seat 44 is threaded at 48 for engagement into the threads 7 within the opening 6 in the head 2. Grooves 49 along the stem 47 are adapted to pass liquid into the interior of the head 2. It is especially important to note that the threads 42 and 45 are of smaller size than the threads 7 and 48. By means of the handle 50, the valve element 40 may be rotated. It will now be seen that the valve element 40 fits within the head 2 by means of connection of the threads 7 and 48. Upon rotation of the second seat 44 by means of the handle 50, the second seat 44 moves with respect to the head 2. Further, because the threads are of different size, the first seat 41 moves with respect to the second seat 44. Thus, both the indentations 9 and the indentations 42 are progressively uncovered. This means that concentric conical sprays are produced. Further, these conical sprays may both be varied in size by simply rotating the handle 50. The same advantages noted with respect to the assembly 1 are also to be had with respect to this assembly.

While only certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Such other embodiments are to be included as part of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

1. An adjustable shower head assembly or the like, including a generally cup-shaped, hollow shower head having a bottom and side walls terminating in a lip, said bottom having an opening for passing liquid to said head, said lip having a plurality of indentations on the interior of said head, said indentations decreasing in size as they extend towards said bottom of said head, a valve element movably associated with said head, said valve element including a seat movably positioned adjacent said indentations, in one position said seat preventing liquid from passing from said head through said indentations and in another position fully exposing said indentations to the interior of said head, thereby allowing maximum liquid to escape from said head, said valve element including a stem extending from one side of said seat, said stem having at least one elongated groove beginning at its end and extending at least along a portion of its length, said end of said stern threaded into said opening and a handle on the opposite side of said seat for rotating said valve element and moving said seat with respect to said indentations, the liquid passing along said groove in said stem into the interior of said head.

2. An adjustable shower head assembly or the like, including a generally cup-shaped, hollow shower head having a bottom and side walls terminating in a lip, said bottom having an opening for passing liquid to said head, said lip having a plurality of indentations on the interior of said head, said indentations decreasing in size as they extend towards said bottom of said head, a valve element movably associated with said head, said valve element including a seat movably positioned adjacent said indentations, in one position said seat preventing liquid from passing from said head through said indentations and in another position fully exposing said indentations to the interior of said head, thereby allowing maximum liquid to escape from said head, said seat being ring-shaped and also including a plurality of indentations on the interior thereof, said indentations decreasing in size as they extend towards said bottom of said head, said valve element including a stem threaded into the interior of said head and also threaded into the interior of said ring-shaped seat, said threaded connections being of different size, a second seat on said stem lying adjacent said indentations on the interior of said ring-shaped seat for movement with respect thereto, a handle on said second seat for rotating said stem, thereby moving both said ring-shaped seat and said second seat with respect to the said indentations adjacent thereof.

3. An adjustable shower head assembly or the like as defined in claim 2, said stem threaded into said opening in said bottom of said head, the liquid passing through means in said stern into the interior of said head.

4. An adjustable shower head assembly or the like, including a generally cup-shaped, hollow shower head having a bottom and side walls terminating in a lip, said bottom having an opening for passing liquid to said head, a valve element movably associated with said head, said valve element including a seat, in one position said seat preventing liquid from passing from said head and in another position allowing maximum liquid to escape from said head, said valve element including a stem extending from one side of said seat, said stem having at least one elongated groove beginning at its end and extending at least along a portion of its length, said end of said stem threaded into said opening and a handle on the opposite side of said seat for rotating said valve element and moving said seat with respect to said head, the liquid passing along said grooves in said stem into the interior of said head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,553 11/1933 Muller et al 239-460 1,996,545 4/ 1935 Knowlton 239-460 2,069,150 1/1937 Holder 239-460 X 2,285,831 6/1942 Pennypacker 239-460 1 2,608,443 8/1952 Hinderer 239-460 X 2,749,183 6/1956 Fraser 239-460 2,949,242 8/ 1960 Blumberg et a1 239-460 3,022,014 2/1962 Young 239-460 X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner. 

